By: Fern Sidman
As American voters face the most consequential presidential election since the Lincoln/Douglas era, the issue of actively participating in our democratic process has been front and center in the media as discussions that focus on fulfilling our civic responsibilities become more prevalent.
Having said this, political scientists and voting experts agree that most voters cannot wrap their minds around the highly significant impact of their vote. Many people will remark that their vote is essentially trivial in the whole “ball of political wax.”
Enter Ari Kagan, a Democratic district leader for Brooklyn’s 45th assembly district. This area includes Sheepshead Bay, Brighton Beach, Manhattan Beach, and parts of Gravesend and Steve Cymbrowitz represents the area in the state assembly.
Says the émigré from Belarus who first came to these shores in 1993, “I understood the importance of participating in the voting process when I arrived in this country which is a representative democracy. I understood that we freedom is not free and to preserve our freedom and exercise some control in our government, then we must all have a voice. We must all speak up and be heard through our votes.”
Addressing the issue of complacency in voting, Kagan said, “I was elected as the leader for the district that I reside in and I have seen time and time again that all elections are equally important. Whether it be an election for a president and national representatives such as candidates who are running for the House of Representatives or the Senate or whether it be municipal judges or city council members, every race is important and every race has a far greater impact on our everyday lives than we could ever imagine.”
Kagan says that not only does each vote carry a hefty degree of gravitas but that he has personally witnessed the making or breaking of elections with just a relatively small number of votes. “Over the years I have seen candidates win or lose elections based on less than 100 or even 50 votes. Let’s not forget that during the 2000 Bush-Gore race only 500 some odd votes from military service members determined the outcome of the race.
In addition to promulgating the importance of voting Kagan said, “When one does not vote. One literally silences oneself, and there is never a legitimate rationale or an excuse for not casting one’s vote. And the important thing to remember is that if you do not vote then you have no right to complain. If you don’t like the candidates who are on the ballot, then jump into the fray and become a candidate or suggest that someone you agree with on issues become a candidate. Collect signatures on petitions, attend community events, talk with people about issues that concern them. But don’t stay home and not vote on “principle” because you are only doing yourself a great injustice.”
On the issue of the 2020 census, Kagan raises some cogent issues as well and provides a great deal of food for thought. In essence, he says that if we do not complete our census questionnaires then the communities in which we reside will not receive federal and state funds for the improvement of our local environs.
“Did you ever notice that no new hospitals have been built in South Brooklyn for a while?” queries Kagan. He attributes the severe lack of new government services and edifices that are vital and exceptionally necessary for the enhancement and the betterment of our lives to the apathy and indifference that has permeated our thinking.
Becoming active and staying in the voting process as well as fulfilling our responsibility in filling out our census forms is the way in which we can be heard, says Kagan.
“If you were to ask me what is our biggest detriment as a community, as a people, I would say it is complacency, “ says Kagan. “I can tell you that native Americans, people who were born and raised in this country have no real clue to what it is like to live in a country where voting is outlawed, where one can go to jail for decades for voicing criticism of a president or dictator. Treasuring our rights, and appreciating our ability to make a substantive change or to maintain the status quo is what we need to think about each day and to educate our children about. Without it, we are doomed.”
